Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods allowing for rapid, accurate, robust, and low-cost diagnosis of infectious diseases via extraction-free, direct PCR techniques.

Abstract: A version control system such as may be used in an information management system for a source code development project. Multiple versions of artifacts are stored in the version control system. Some versions are stored in uncompressed form while others are stored in compressed form. The artifacts selected to be stored in compressed form are selected to facilitate rapid retrieval of files. The compression process is such that the compression may be performed as a background operation.

Abstract: An “out-of-the-box” automated build process application capable of executing a build process without any human intervention. The automated build process application may be configured to be installed and executed without any intervening manual coding of the build process, and may be capable of being configured through a user interface. The automated build application may be integrated within a software development environment, eliminating the need to independently create and use non-integrated software tools and scripts to automate aspects of the build process. Embodiments of the invention may be implemented using a workflow engine configured to execute a build process. A workflow engine (e.g., the MSBuild engine available from Microsoft Corporation) can be configured to perform all of the acts involved in a build process. The build process may be defined by one or more files formatted in accordance with a markup language such as, for example, XML or HTML.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method and apparatus for automatically evaluating compliance of at least one source code file against at least one checkin policy. In a further embodiment, providing information about the compliance or non-compliance of the at least one source code file with the at least one checkin policy. In another embodiment, providing an option to override a policy failure and submit the at least one source code file to a source code repository. In one embodiment, in response to an override of a policy failure, providing a notification about the override of the policy failure. In some embodiments, an extensible framework enabling the installation of at least one checkin policy plugin, and providing a notification that at least one checkin policy plugin is not installed. In further embodiments, providing and using a work item association policy plugin, a unit tests policy plugin, and a static analysis policy plugin.

Abstract: The techniques and mechanisms described herein are directed to a method for virtually catching an exception. A debugger receives a notification identifying information about an exception that occurred during execution of an application. The debugger then selectively chooses a location on a call stack where execution of the application resumes after the stack is unwound up to the selected location. The location being between a statement on the stack causing the exception and a handler on the stack. The handler being identified during a search phase for exception processing. The mechanism being operative for both handled exceptions and unhandled exceptions.

Abstract: A compiler that completes compilation upon identifying unresolvable input during compilation instead of aborting compilation. This can be accomplished by inserting an exception-throwing instruction, and/or handlers in place of the unresolvable input in the compiled code output. If the section of the compiled code containing the inserted exception throwing instruction is later executed, an exception is thrown and/or handled. Compilation of code from a trusted source can be completed without inserting an exception throwing instruction when the code has only suspected but unverifiable problems.

Abstract: A source code control architecture. A client user checks out a copy of a source code file to the client using a file checkout process. A client cache maintains a pristine copy of the file, and a client activity list maintains a list of commands executed during the offline mode to effect modifications to the copy. The client cache contains a pristine copy of all source code files that are modified or deleted in a local client workspace. The cache is maintained whether the user is online or offline. When the user is offline, the cache is utilized to facilitate many of the activities that historically would require server connectivity. The command activity list allows a developer to continue changing the source code while offline by automatically recording the executed commands. The offline commands are reconciled to the server, and used to update the server file(s) when the client returns online.

Abstract: Systems and methodologies are provided for load testing a server wherein user characteristics are adjusted dynamically during the testing period of the server, based upon weightings defined in a user profile. Such dynamic adjustment enables a distribution of user characteristics as a percentage of total requests, (e.g. a per iteration model). The user characteristics can include type of user activities on a web page (e.g. search, browse, check out), browser features (e.g. browser type, browser version) net work connections, various client/server hard ware/software configurations and the like.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and methodology to facilitate software development activities via the concept of “Shelving” which provides an improved alternative to conventional branching technologies in certain scenarios. In one aspect, a software development system is provided. The system includes a shelving component that captures a current state of an intermediate software design. A version control component processes the intermediate design as if the intermediate design were a completed software design.

Abstract: An implicit session system with an object state cache. The implicit sessioning avoids explicitly passing session parameters in each function call to an object by implicitly associating the session context to a session object with each loaded object related to the session so that each function call runs with the session context of the called object. The object state cache minimizes the system resource impact of having multiple instances of an object in different sessions by sharing one copy of each respective unique object state in an object state cache.

Abstract: An implicit session system with an object state cache. The implicit sessioning avoids explicitly passing session parameters in each function call to an object by implicitly associating the session context to a session object with each loaded object related to the session so that each function call runs with the session context of the called object. The object state cache minimizes the system resource impact of having multiple instances of an object in different sessions by sharing one copy of each respective unique object state in an object state cache.